(CoE) Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in a case concerning freedom of expression and association in Hungary

Date of article: 06/09/2024

Daily News of: 11/09/2024

Country:  EUROPE

Author: Commissioner for Human Rights - CoE

Commissioner O’Flaherty has published today his written observations in the case of Hungarian Helsinki Committee v. Hungary which is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights. The case relates to the introduction of Article 353/A of the Hungarian Criminal Code in June 2018 and was lodged by a non-governmental organisation active, amongst others, in the area of human rights of migrants.

In his submission, the Commissioner puts before the Court information on the basis of which it may consider the following points: the introduction of Article 353/A of the Criminal Code constitutes a component of broad restrictions to freedom of expression and freedom of association of civil society in Hungary; the criminalisation of “facilitating or supporting illegal migration” introduced through Article 353/A was neither necessary nor foreseeable within the meaning of Article 10(2) and Article 11(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights; several aspects call into question the declared purpose behind the introduction of Article 353/A.

This third-party intervention is the first submitted by Commissioner O’Flaherty since the start of his mandate on 1 April 2024.

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Educación no concreta medidas para paliar la desigualdad entre los escolares, como recomienda el Síndic

Date of article: 10/09/2024

Daily News of: 11/09/2024

Country:  Spain - Valencia

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Valencia

El síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ángel Luna, lamenta que la Conselleria de Educación no haya concretado qué medidas va a adoptar para aliviar la desigualdad de los escolares en situación de vulnerabilidad social, tal y como recomienda exhaustivamente la institución que preside.

Así concluye la queja de oficio abierta por el Síndic, en febrero de este año 2024, para investigar la capacidad del sistema educativo valenciano de ofrecer igualdad de oportunidades al alumnado que sufre situaciones desfavorables por factores sociales, económicos, culturales, geográficos y étnicos.

En concreto, el objetivo de esta institución era comprobar si Educación garantizaba unas condiciones más favorables para el alumnado en situación de vulnerabilidad socioeducativa.

En su Resolución de Recomendaciones, el Síndic instaba a Educación a mejorar la información a las familias sobre la elección de centro y el acceso a becas y ayudas;  a ofrecer actividades extraescolares y de ocio educativo; proporcionar acompañamiento y tutorización al alumnado y sus familias; garantizar la coordinación interdepartamental entre las consellerias de sanidad, servicios sociales y educación; distribuir equitativamente la financiación en función de las necesidades del alumnado y la complejidad de los centros; reducir la segregación y evitar la formación de guetos en centros desfavorecidos;  y apoyar a las familias para prevenir y gestionar situaciones de riesgo.

A pesar de que la Conselleria de Educación dice aceptar cada una de las recomendaciones y recordatorios de deberes legales incluidos en la resolución del Síndic, indicado por su parte la normativa que contempla instrucciones para paliar la desigualdad del alumnado, Luna considera que la Conselleria no se ha comprometido a impulsar y aprobar medidas concretas destinadas a compensar las desigualdades, a través de programas específicos desarrollados en centros docentes escolares o en zonas geográficas donde resulte necesaria una intervención educativa

Cabe recordar que la Ley del Síndic de Greuges establece que las respuestas de la Administración deben manifestar, de forma inequívoca, su posicionamiento respecto de las recomendaciones contenidas en las resoluciones y, en concreto, si se aceptan, se harán constar las medidas adoptadas para su cumplimiento.

Por último, el Síndic señala que la Administración responsable de Educación es la que debe proporcionar a los centros escolares los recursos y los medios necesarios que necesitan para desarrollar su actividad, así como adecuar sus estructuras y organización para lograr dar una respuesta adecuada a las necesidades e intereses de estos alumnos, que constituyen uno de los grupos con mayores riesgos de exclusión escolar y, por consiguiente, de exclusión social.

Consulta la resolución de cierre de este expediente.

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IOI Ombudsman News 35/2024

Date of article: 06/09/2024

Daily News of: 11/09/2024

Country:  WORLD

Author: International Ombudsman Institute

 

IOI | Reminder - 2-day Training Seminar: “AI and decision-making processes, compliance with the rights of individuals”

The International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice of Estonia in collaboration with the e-Governance Academy (eGA) invites you to participate in a 2-day training seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Tallinn, Estonia on October 15–16, 2024. Kindly also consult this reminder for information on the e-learning platform, which is part of this project and which will be open for participants and others interested in the materials. The deadline for applications is Friday, 13 September 2024.



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UK | Reminder - Invitation to participate in a survey for the OPRAS project

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman and Professor Chris Gill (University of Glasgow) are conducting a joint research project examining the role of ombudspersons in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers (the OPRAS project). The corresponding survey, whose aim is to understand the work of ombudspersons in this area and to identify good practice, is still open until 27 September 2024. You can now also download the survey in Word format to facilitate its completion where more than one individual is completing it.



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The recording of the webinar is now online

AORC | Re-watch the webinar "Celebrating Women's Month - Ensuring Gender Equity: The Role of the Ombudsman"

On 27 August 2024, the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC), in collaboration with the IOI, held a webinar to discuss and understand the crucial role Ombudsman institutions play in addressing gender bias and discrimination within organizations.
 



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Se analiza la ley de amnistía

MÉXICO | En CDHCM, colectivos de víctimas de violaciones a derechos humanos y organizaciones civiles analizan Ley de Amnistía y beneficios por colaboración

La figura de amnistía no puede representar escenarios de impunidad, especialmente en casos de violaciones graves a derechos humanos, por lo cual existe la preocupación de que se desproteja a las víctimas en su derecho a la reparación del daño.

 

Así lo destacó la Ombudsperson capitalina, Nashieli Ramírez Hernández, al inaugurar el Foro: “Ley de Amnistía y beneficios por colaboración en los casos de violaciones a los derechos humanos en México. Diálogo sobre su aplicabilidad, análisis de los avances, retrocesos y propuestas de medidas para su eficacia”.



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CANADA | Ombudsman to investigate child welfare practice of placing children and youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers

On September 5, 2024, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé announced an investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing young children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers. The Ombudsman launched the investigation on his own initiative in light of several reports about children being inappropriately housed in these settings. Ombudsman staff have already visited some of these children and youth to see their living conditions and hear their concerns directly.



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Ombudsman Chan announces completion of investigation into Transport Department

HONG KONG, CHINA | Office of The Ombudsman announces results of direct investigation into Transport Department’s arrangements for driving tests

On 5 September 2024, the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the arrangements for driving tests by the Transport Department (TD), and made 12 major recommendations to the Department.



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Defensora exige medidas necesarias para asegurar una provesion adecuada de electricidad

ARGENTINA | La Defensoría advierte sobre el posible agravamiento de los cortes de luz previstos para el próximo verano

La Defensora del Pueblo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, María Rosa Muiños, solicitó a la Secretaría de Energía de la Nación que brinde información sobre los planes de contingencia y protocolos que tiene previsto implementar el próximo verano, frente a los cortes del servicio de suministro eléctrico que podrían agravarse con relación a períodos anteriores.



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IRELAND | OCO report highlights scramble to find school places for children with Special Educational Needs

There is still a scramble every September to find appropriate school places for children with Special Educational Needs, despite progress made by Government in recent years to prioritise the issue. That’s according to Plan for Places, Two Years On from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, which examines whether progress has been made on recommendations made in the institution's previous Plan for Places report in 2022.



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Training on communication in the digital age

TIMOR-LESTE | Deputy Ombudsman stresses importance of digital rights at recent training session

The second stage of the training program on “Communication in the Age of Social Media and Tech Platforms,” organized by the Association of Information and Progressive Technology of Timor-Leste (ITP-TL), concluded successfully from 27-29 August 2024. The training took place at the Oriente Foundation in Dili and featured the participation of two officials from the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ).



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La Diputada del Común pide que se destine al presupuesto educativo el 5% del producto interior bruto canario

ESPAÑA | La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, pide que se adopten las medidas necesarias para la aplicación del 5% en Educación

La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, ha solicitado a la Consejería de Presidencia, Administraciones Publicas, Justicia y Seguridad que se adopten las medidas necesarias para que, con la diligencia debida y en estricto cumplimiento de la Ley Canaria de Educación no Universitaria, se proceda a destinar al presupuesto educativo el 5% del producto interior bruto canario, conforme al mínimo que regula la citada Ley. Padrón asegura que es preciso que se cumpla la Ley 6/2014, de 25 de julio, “en aras de alcanzar el logro de los principios rectores del sistema educativo canario”.



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FRANCE | Droit à l'éducation pour tous : rentrée 2024, des enfants toujours privés de leur droit

Alors que 12 millions d’élèves du primaire et du secondaire font leur rentrée scolaire cette semaine, de trop nombreux enfants resteront chez eux faute de pouvoir être scolarisés, ou rencontreront de réelles difficultés dans leur apprentissage faute d’aménagements adéquats. Lycéens sans affectation, manque d’accessibilité et d’inclusivité pour les élèves en situation de handicap : ce sont des dizaines de milliers d’enfants qui, chaque année, voient leur droit à l’éducation entravé. Le Défenseur des droits est particulièrement vigilant à ces situations et fait de l’accès à l’éducation de tous les enfants une de ses priorités.



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Control Yuan members listen to exposition by CDC staff

CONTROL YUAN, TAIWAN | CY’s Committee on Social Welfare and Environment Hygiene Affairs Conducts Circuit Supervision at Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

The Committee on Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Affairs of the Control Yuan conducted a site visit at the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control on July 19, 2024. The inspection, centered on post-pandemic disease prevention, policy formulation, and the establishment of an infectious disease prevention network, aimed to protect the public’s health rights and interests.



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La Defensoría del Pueblo supervisa los hospitales nivel III para fortalecer el sistema de salud

PERÚ | Defensoría del Pueblo realiza supervisión nacional de hospitales nivel III para fortalecer el sistema de salud

La Defensoría del Pueblo ha desplegado un equipo a nivel nacional para supervisar 36 hospitales de categoría de nivel III, con el objetivo de fortalecer el sistema de salud y asegurar que las poblaciones más vulnerables reciban una atención de calidad. Esta supervisión busca evaluar diversos aspectos críticos de la gestión hospitalaria, tales como el presupuesto, la gestión del riesgo, la oferta de servicios, el abastecimiento de medicamentos, el manejo administrativo, la atención en laboratorios, entre otros.



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Investigation report available now

CANADA | Toronto Ombudsman finds major gaps with police’s registry for vulnerable persons

On 5 September 2024, Toronto's Ombudsman released his report, An Investigation into the Toronto Police Service’s Communications About its Vulnerable Persons Registry. The TPS launched the registry in December of 2019 to allow the public to file personalized de-escalation strategies to help police officers support individuals with emotional, psychological, medical, or other physical conditions. Four years later, the Ombudsman’s investigation found that only 305 people currently have their information entered into the registry.



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Participation of the Ombudsman in the Pre-Session of the 4th Cycle of Evaluation of Portugal in the context of the Universal Periodic Review

Date of article: 06/09/2024

Daily News of: 11/09/2024

Country:  Portugal

Author: National Ombudsman of Portugal

On August 30, in Geneva, the Ombudsman, represented by the Deputy Ombudsman, Ravi Afonso Pereira, took part in the Pre-Session of the 4th cycle of evaluation of Portugal under the Universal Periodic Review. This event, which precedes the formal evaluation to be carried out next November, was an opportunity for the Ombudsman to present his observations and recommendations on the human rights situation in Portugal, contributing to a constructive dialogue with the various relevant actors in the process.

The Ombudsman’s participation in this pre-session, whose full statement can be read here, underlines his continued commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, reaffirming the importance of the Universal Periodic Review as a fundamental mechanism for monitoring progress in this area.

It should be remembered that in April of this year, in the exercise of its mandate as the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), the Ombudsman had already submitted its alternative report.

 

 

2024-09-06

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Report on Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces

Date of article: 04/09/2024

Daily News of: 11/09/2024

Country:  Georgia

Author: Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

The Public Defender of Georgia, with the help of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), prepared a report - Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces.

The report analyzes the decisions (judgements) made by common courts regarding sexual harassment in public spaces throughout Georgia in the period from May 3, 2019 to January 20, 2023.

The study of the issue made it clear that the courts have a positive and important practice in relation to the cases of sexual harassment in public spaces, however, at the same time, there are a number of challenges, which are due, on the one hand, to the legal framework inconsistent with international standards, and on the other hand, with the need for deepening the knowledge about women's rights and gender equality in the judicial system.

The purpose of the report is to promote the improvement of the mechanisms for combating cases of sexual harassment in public spaces, therefore recommendations are made to the relevant agencies within the framework of the report.

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